Etiquette Tips For Japanese Travel (PHOTOS)

Etiquette is a touchy subject. Mom told you not to point your finger at people, put your napkin in your lap, and chew with your mouth closed, among other bits of advice.

Cultures have different sets of etiquette (the French don't cut their bread, they rip it, for instance) and you're bound to make an inappropriate gesture or say something wrong if you're not careful.

Japan is no exception. If you're visiting there soon--and you should, the end of August is a great time to see the changing leaves--there are some things you should know first.

Lonely Planet put together a list of starting tips for impressing the locals with your cultural know-how. Captions courtesy of Lonely Planet.

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Mind Your Manners: How To Be Polite In Japan

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Do not stick your hashi (chopsticks) upright in a bowl of rice. This is how rice is offered to the dead in Buddhist rituals. Similarly, do not pass food from your chopsticks to another's chopsticks. This is another funereal ritual.

When eating with other people, especially when you’re a guest, it is polite to say ‘itadakimasu’ (literally, ‘I will receive’) before digging in. This is as close as the Japanese come to saying grace. Similarly, at the end of the meal, you should thank your host by saying ‘gochiso-sama deshita’, which means ‘It was a real feast’.

It is bad form to fill your own glass. You should fill the glass of the person next to you and wait for them to reciprocate. Raise your glass a little off the table while it is being filled. Once everyone’s glass has been filled, the usual starting signal is a chorus of ‘kampai’, which means ‘cheers!’

When you eat noodles in Japan, it’s perfectly OK, even expected, to slurp them. In fact, one of the best ways to find ramen restaurants in Japan is to listen for the loud slurping sound that comes out of them.

Take your shoes off when entering a private home or anywhere with a tatami floor. Sometimes slippers are provided, with a separate set for the toilet.

In a shop, instead of handing cash to the assistant, place your money on the small tray they keep next to the till.

Entering a shrine can be a bewildering experience. Just past the gate you’ll find a chozuya (trough of water) with a hishaku (long-handed ladle) to purify yourself. Take a ladle, fill it with water, pour some over one hand, then transfer the spoon and pour water over the other hand. Finally, pour water into your cupped hand and rinse your mouth, spitting the water onto the ground.

Bathing at an onsen (hot spring) or sento (public bath) is a quintessentially Japanese experience. Baths are separated by gender, and the changing room will have baskets or lockers for storing clothes and a bath towel. Bring a washcloth and toiletries with you into the bathing area (soap and shampoo are often provided). There will be a row of taps along one wall. Find an empty spot and scrub yourself down.
Once you’re clean, rinse completely before going anywhere near the baths. The communal baths are meant for soaking and shouldn’t be adulterated by soap, or – shock horror – dirt.